Plan afoot to expand network to Europe,UK: PIA

LAHORE: Following the lifting of ban imposed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planning to expand its network to Europe and the UK.

A PIA spokesperson said on Wednesday that with the potential resumption of flights to Europe and the UK, the national airline is working to rejuvenate its aircraft that were in long-term storage, bringing them back into the operational fleet.

According to the management’s plan, the operational fleet of Boeing 777s will increase to eight.

Similarly, the number of Airbus A320 aircraft is planned to rise to 12, while the ATR fleet will be expanded to two aircraft. This fleet enhancement aligns with PIA’s ambitious operating plan for 2025. PIA is making every effort to expand its network, ensure viability on high-demand routes, and provide convenience to the large diaspora residing abroad.

As a result of these efforts, PIA is now maintaining notable schedule reliability and an on-time performance rate exceeding 90% — the highest in the country, the spokesperson concluded.